Bridgetown, Barbados, 8 February 2022 (PAHO) - The Pan American Health Organization (PAHO), Office for Barbados and the Eastern Caribbean Countries held a virtual courtesy call and orientation for the newly appointed Ministers of Health in Barbados on the Organization, structure, functions, and its technical cooperation.
Following the general elections held in Barbados on 19 January 2022 after the incumbent Barbados Labour Party retained its majority seats in parliament the leader of the party the Hon. Mia A. Mottley, Prime Minister of Barbados formed the new government.
The Hon. G.P. Ian Gooding-Edghill, J.P., M.P was appointed to serve as the Minister of Health and Wellness and The. Hon. Sonia E. Browne, M.P., the Minister of State, Ministry of Health and Wellness with day-to-day responsibility for the Queen Elizabeth Hospital and for Chronic Noncommunicable Diseases in the newly established cabinet. The two ministers, are both second term parliamentarians with Hon. Ian Gooding-Edghill as the former minister responsible for Transport, works and water resources.
In his opening remarks Dr. Yitades Gebre, PAHO/WHO Representative for Barbados and the Eastern Caribbean Countries (PWR-ECC) welcomed both Ministers on behalf of the Director of PAHO and congratulated on their appointment in what he noted was a very important area of leadership at these unprecedented times. He said, “There will be calls at midnight and some health emergencies and many fires to put out, that is the nature of health, I think you are ready to do that, and we are ready to support,” he said. The PAHO Representation team was introduced to the Ministry officials followed by remarks by the two Ministers.
Minister Gooding-Edghill said “Barbados and the entire Government of Barbados continues to be very proud of our association with PAHO/WHO and we will certainly continue the excellent work relationship, which would have been built by our predecessor. We are very much committed to PAHO/WHO.”
He informed that “the Prime Minister is very clear in her position by appointing a Minister in the Ministry responsible for health, wellness and other issues related to the operations of the Queen Elizabeth Hospital. So you can see from the Prime Minister’s vision her commitment, which is consistent with what I am hearing in today’s meeting with PAHO.”
Minister Dr. Browne echoed the sentiments of the Minister of Health and noted, “I do look forward to working with you in respect of primary health care which of course includes NCDs.”
Dr. Gebre provided an overview of the histories of PAHO and WHO, the constitutional structures, the governing bodies and leadership as well as the regional health priorities. The Representative further shared upcoming high-level events in Barbados and regionally. These included:
- High-level technical meeting of Small Islands Developing States (SIDS) on the Prevention and Control of Noncommunicable (NCDs) with PAHO/WHO to be held in Barbados, October 2022
- Hybrid face-to-face two-day Ministerial Conference of SIDS on the Prevention and Control of NCDs and mental health in Bridgetown, Barbados, March 2023.
- PAHO’s Health Priories on the upcoming Summit of the Americas, June 2022 in United States of Americas
Other Ministry of Health officials attending the meeting were Dr. Anton Best, Deputy Chief Medical Officer and Mrs. Janet Phillips, Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Health and Wellness.
